When Apple announced the iPhone early last month with its new 8-pin Lightning dock connector, it seemed like a no-brainer that Apple would have a hefty supply of Lightning to 30-pin Adapters on hand to appease the masses. After all, Apple's decision to ditch its 9-year old 30-pin dock connector meant that customers wouldn't be able to use their existing accessories without an adapter on the iPhone 5.

Inexplicably, Apple was unable to deliver the adapters at launch even though the decision to use Lightning surely didn’t occur overnight. But nearly four weeks after the iPhone 5's release, Apple is just now getting around to shipping the adapters to customers.

Mac Rumors reports that a few Australian customers have received shipping notifications and an estimated delivery date of October 9 for the Lightning to 30-pin Adapter.

Apple's standard Lightning to 30-pin Adapter costs $29. Apple is also charging $10 more for a Lightning to 30-pin Adapter that includes an 8" cable if you need some extra length.

Why not just bite the bullet and switch to a different brand now? Sure, you'll be giving up a lot of money that you duped...i mean dumped into apple's stuff; but that's just the short term.

In the long term, this $30 nickel & diming will hurt your wallet a lot more than just jumping ship to brands that are interoperable and won't dry-hump your paycheck.

Apple's marketing genius lies in removing all consumer freedom from their products and somehow convincing their consumers that they are better off for it. It's like people who think that they can actually win a fortune in Vegas. Casino's don't build themselves out of thin air; that money came from somewhere.

Apple posts record revenue quarter after quarter and people don't question their enslavement to its products? that's just insanity.